Everything Joe DeCamillis said previewing South Carolina's matchup with Kentucky

South Carolina special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis spoke to the media on Wednesday to preview the team’s Week 5 matchup against Kentucky. Here’s everything he had to say.

Get GamecockCentral for $1 your first week. As a bonus, your membership includes a complimentary year of The Athletic.

What has stood out about William Joyce so far?

“He’s done a good job. He’s really worked hard during the offseason and then during the summertime. I think the operation’s gotten better. Cole [Rasmussen]‘s done a really good job with his snaps, and I think we got a good operation so far between the three of them. That’s really what helps kickers more than anything else: great operations. So, if that can continue, that’ll help us.

“He’s had some shorter field goals that he’s made. So, hopefully, we can keep that going. And if it gets back, he’ll make some of the longer ones, also.”

What did you see out of Mike Tyler and Donovan Darden so they could get on the field last Saturday night?

“You’re always looking to try to get young guys out there — like we did Fred [Johnson] last year, like we did with [David] Bucey last year. In my opinion, part of my job is to help those guys develop as players down the road, and the only way you get better is by playing football. And football is special teams. You block, you tackle, and you do all the things that you do on offense and defense. So, all those guys have showed up in practice.

“You might see some other guys out there this week, too. You saw Jaquel [Holman] have the four returns when they kicked it to him, decided to kick away from Nyck [Harbor] and went to Jaquel. So, I think some of those young guys are getting some reps. Hopefully, we continue that way. But [I’m] pleased with where those two guys are at, for sure.”

Had you seen on film the Missouri punter doing the drop kicks? How do you think your team handled something so unique in the middle of the game?

“I thought they handled it well. You got to field the ball, and they decided to go to him [Holman] over Nyck — which, that’s fine. We’ve done that before. We did it last year, if you remember, with Kai [Kroeger]. We had a good feel with him. He did a good job of that, but they were trying to keep it away from Nyck. I think our average start was the 32-yard line, so that’s our decision, if that’s what they want to do. I mean, field position’s field position, so if we can get it at the 32 and average that — I think, on the last one, we started at the 40 — if that’s what they want to do, that’s what they want to do. And I thought our guys did a great job of adjusting to it mid-game, for sure.”

Through four games, with Mason [Love] being handed the starting punting duties, how would you evaluate his performance?

“Obviously, you’re always going better, no question about it, but he’s done well. I’m pleased with where he’s at. I thought they controlled field position at the start of the game. We get the one down at the eight, — which wasn’t a great punt, but when you’re going into the sideline, that helps us. And then, the one that he gets on the half-yard line, they got a great drive on that. Hopefully, next time we get him on the half-yard line, it stays back. But he’s done a good job of controlling field position from where the punts have occurred for him — you know, what we’re asking him to do. So, if he can continue to do that, we’ll be in good shape.”

What kind of skill set does Holman bring that makes you confident that, if teams of try to avoid Nyck Harbor, that he can go out and handle that?

“He’s an aggressive kid. All through camp, he showed some toughness and showed some real burst, some real athleticism. He played at running back in high school — and did a heck of job with that — so, obviously, he’s doing the same thing running back kicks. But I think he’s only going to get better as a cover player and all those things, too. Hopefully, that experience will help him become a better defensive player down the road. And I think it will.”

Discuss South Carolina football on The Insiders Forum!